Fremantle welcomes Burnie to WA

Fremantle welcomed three (3) interstate clubs; Burnie Dockers, Doncaster Heights Dockers and Balmain Dockers to Perth in July for what is hoped will be an annual trip to WA. The partner clubs of the Fremantle Football Club, each clubs under 17 side undertook a series of events to assist in developing their football and ultimately strengthening the respective relationships with the Fremantle Football Club. The highlight of the trip came on Sunday, 13 July 2007 when the three (3) teams played a curtain raiser to the Fremantle vs Kangaroos clash. It was the first time in the history of the Fremantle Football Club youth league the three (3) teams were involved in a curtain raiser. During their time in WA, the partner clubs will take in a tour of the Fremantle Football Club, strength and conditioning sessions with the Fremantle staff, a tour of the WA Institute of Sport and a team building exercise with the WA Police Force s Tactical Response Group. Community Development Manager David Crute said hosting the partner clubs was one of the Fremantle Football Club s highlights in its Community Development Program. Due to the overwhelming success of this program, we have extended an invitation to the three teams again in 2008 and we are hopeful this can be an annual event.

Bayviews Burnie Docker President Shane Walker said this was a fantastic experience for our younger players and certainly a once in a lifetime experience. The Burnie Football Club will see the benefit of this trip in the years to come, as a lot of these boys will go on a represent our club at senior level. Our boys were successful in winning both games in Perth and then capped off the year winning the Under 17 premiership against Latrobe. David Crute said it was clear in the matches in Perth that Burnie played a very good brand of football and there were some players who were very capable of leading their team to bigger and better things.

Dockers give local schools a helping hand

Last year local primary schools received a $10,000.00 injection in football jumpers from the Burnie & Fremantle Dockers. Part of the relationship between Burnie and Fremantle is to heavily promote junior football and participation within our community Burnie Docker president Shane Walker said. This is part of the commitment to the Dockers Cup primary school competition, which we started in 2006. The Dockers Cup will be held again this year with about a dozen primary schools involved. The Burnie Football Club is thrilled to be involved and the feedback from the schools has been fantastic. Fremantle Community Development Manager David Crute said the relationship with the schools was developed with the local community in mind. It assists in getting kids playing football in the community We strongly support getting kids involved in physical fitness. We are thrilled to be involved with the Burnie Dockers as they lead the way in that they embrace local children and are very focussed on creating a pathway for young kids to not only participate in football but also to develop their skills so that one day they may become AFL players .

The Docker Cup for primary school children will commence in April 2008.